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Category Archives: Nature

This morning was gray and dreary, overcast with no hope of sunshine, and the lugubrious light rain which rendered the morning counterproductive for any outdoor activity gently reminded me of a verse found in Matthew 5:45

“…For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” NLT

You see the rain isn’t an indicator of evil or the foreboding of God’s wrath, nor is the sun a sure sign of the benevolence of God. The rain and the sun are both blessings from God which He gives to everyone, regardless of an individuals spiritual state, whether to obedience and surrender to Jesus or open rebellion to God.

In other words, you don’t receive God’s favor or love simply because you’re obedient. Our obedience to Jesus should be the overflow of a heart that has been transformed by His power.

Often times rain is considered a metaphor for trials, tribulations, suffering, or punishment; the truth about rain is that it is incredibly necessary for the Earth to be replenished and refreshed. Much of the same could be said of our struggles, without which we wouldn’t understand the concept of victory, accomplishment, or the great heights of joy.

In truth, in Old Testament times, the rain was very much viewed as a blessing from God; without the rain their crops would dry up and the streams would be beds of dust.

Regardless how you view the rain or shine, the truth remains that you didn’t DO something to deserve either situation. If the sun is shining on you, it’s because God loves you. If the rain is pouring on you, recognize His incredible love towards you.

So why does God show blessings, favor, or love to everyone?

John 3:16 makes a very simple and clear point that God loves the entire world.

This is what real love looks like – rain and sun.

In 1 John 4:10 we’re told what real love is

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. NLT

I can’t do anything to deserve God’s blessings. While I was God’s enemy He offered me the gift of forgiveness, His mercy, and His grace.

Whether you view this verse as a literal assessment of precipitation and daylight, or whether you wax deeply into metaphors with considerations of blessings and curses, please keep this in mind…

This morning I went for a rather short walk, I was interrupted by the sounds of birds all around me. I couldn’t help but stop and try to spy on a few of them as they were calling and moving from tree to tree on our property.

There were blue-jays, crows, finches, ravens, and others which I couldn’t determine, however I was captivated by the knocking sounds made by a few woodpeckers nearby.

As I approached one, it flew away before I had a chance to get a good look. Another, while I could hear its dull hammering of the tree, was too far away. I turned and went another direction, content with having enjoyed the sounds of these two woodpeckers.

A few moments passed and I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was another woodpecker only a hundred feet or so from me in a tree top gently pecking away at smaller branches.

I stopped dead in my tracks and tried to peak around the tree to get a better look; it was a small female and she was relentlessly assaulting this sugar maple from every angle. Her agile frame hopped from branch to branch, then all around the trunk, hammering the bark, occasionally releasing a sound, calling out.

This isn’t my picture

I stood there frozen, partly for fear of frightening her off, partly because it was only 15 degrees this morning; still, there was something spiritual going on inside me as I watched and listened to this beautiful creature.

Last week in our men’s group, Anchor Watch, we read Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…”

Did you read that? God illustrates His attributes (the qualities of His nature and character) through creation, the stuff He made!

This morning I began to consider that scripture; often I will look at nature and try to see character qualities that I need to develop or work on; scripture tells us to consider different animals, even insects, and regard our lives in comparison however according to Romans 1:20 we can examine creation and see God’s character.

So I began considering this sweet little bird and asking God to reveal through the Holy Spirit what He was showing me this morning.

I noticed how persistent she was; she didn’t give up, she kept hammering on that wood, refusing to give up until she had thoroughly worked over that tree to obtain that thing which she hoped to extract. I considered how persistent God is with us, how He won’t relent until He has it all. How He reaches out to us, even while we were His enemies, over and over and over. God is persistent.

I watched how she moved and tried different angles, different places on the tree, which caused me to consider how God will use various situations to get our attention, whether our family or friends, work, our hobby, the home, etc.

I heard her call, which reminded me of the scripture in Revelation chapter three.

“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

Take notice, Jesus calls and knocks, persistently for someone to open the door; He isn’t knocking or calling so that they can be judged or verbally assaulted, but so they may enjoy a meal together, sit and know Jesus better.

Perhaps you’re the tree He’s been knocking on and you’ve noticed that He’s been trying every which way to get your attention. Don’t you think it’s time you open up and sit with Him, get to know Him?

Also, remember that God is knocking on people’s hearts all around you, He may even be using you as the wood pecker in someone’s life. Be patient, be kind, He isn’t wanting to judge them, He’s wanting to love them and He’s wanting them to know Him.